Kombucha Review: Wonder Drink’s Asian Pear & Ginger

Last week I introduced Kombucha to the blog and this week, as promised, we’re highlighting a Kombucha company and my favourite flavour from their selection. Launched in 2002, Kombucha Wonder Drink became the first national kombucha brand. Steve Lee, co-founder of Stash Tea and Tazo, founded the company after discovering kombucha and all its benefits while travelling through Russia in the 1990s. Based in Portland, Oregon, today Kombucha Wonder Drink has eight flavours offered in 14 oz resealable glass bottles and five flavours in 8.4 oz cans. Their cans are a great way to enjoy the delightful beverage at an excellent value. If you’re new to kombucha, the cans may be the route you want to take to give it the first try that way you hopefully won’t feel like you’re wasting too much money or product if it ends up not being your cup of tea.

While I really enjoyed their Traditional Kombucha that is made from fresh-brewed organic oolong tea, it was their Asian Pear & Ginger that caught my attention the most. It was also the first variety of their Kombucha I tried so it set the bar pretty high for the rest.

Said to be their most popular flavour, Asian Pear & Ginger features a blend of organic oolong tea, organic pear essence and organic ginger. Here is the full list of ingredients:
Filtered Water, Organic Brewed Oolong Tea (filtered water, organic oolong tea leaves), Organic Kombucha (filtered water, organic cane juice, organic oolong tea leaves, yeast and bacteria cultures), Organic Cane Juice, Organic Ginger Extract, Organic Pear Flavoring with Other Natural Flavors, Carbonation.

This kombucha has an intense aroma, with the pear as the star. There is also a vinegar note that comes along with most kombucha blends. I found the vinegar aroma was more noticeable in Kombucha Wonder Drink’s Traditional blend then any others. A vinegary aroma does not bother me, however, I especially liked that it wasn’t something that was overpowering in the Asian Pear & Ginger flavour.

With the right amount of sweetness, just like the aroma, I found that the pear flavour stands out the most. The ginger is present, but not overwhelming. The pear goes really well with the typical tart taste you would get from kombucha. Even though I have never been a pop/soda fan, I actually really enjoy the natural carbonation that comes with each sip. It’s invigorating and adds to the overall robust drink.

Aside from cold brewed tea, kombucha has become one of my favourite summer drinks to relax and stay refreshed. If you have not tried kombucha yet, I would recommend this flavour. If you already are a kombucha fan, this blend should definitely be on your must try list!